Dear All Star Cheerleaders & Dancers, Gym Owners, Coaches, Parents and Friends,
Welcome to The Summit, Varsity All Star’s Cheer and Dance Championship at the Walt Disney World® Resort. We would like to congratulate you and your team for taking the climb and qualifying for this prestigious event. With the overwhelming response to this event, we anticipate over 1300 teams will travel to Orlando to compete.
Enclosed in this letter is some very important information for you to go over with your coaches, team members and families traveling to Orlando with you. PLEASE READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY! We suggest you make a copy of this letter and give it to every team member to take home to their family.
1. Arrival into Orlando – If you are flying, you should have already booked your DME reservation. If you have not made your reservations for transportation, you must do so immediately (1-866-599-0951). You cannot use Disney’s Magical Express without making reservations prior to your arrival. Download the Disney Magical Express reservation form here.
2. Event Transportation (for competition days) – This is provided ONLY for those purchasing The Summit Travel Package. You will receive a detailed bus schedule when you register with the Varsity All Star staff at the hotel.
3. Early Arrivals – If your flight arrives in Orlando earlier than 2:30 pm, or you are driving and arrive before 4:00 pm, your hotel rooms may not be ready. The hotel will store your luggage for you until the rooms are available. Every effort will be made to have your rooms cleaned and ready upon your arrival.
4. Late Arrivals – Hotel check-in is not guaranteed until 4 pm. If your flight arrives at 10 pm or later, you will need to proceed to baggage claim and claim your luggage to carry with you on the bus. Disney’s Magical Express does not provide luggage assistance for flights that arrive after 10 pm. The Summit Registration may be closed by the time you arrive at the hotel. Please get your room magic band and return the next day to register with The Summit staff in Celebrity Hall.
5. Registration/Check In – Anyone that purchased the Summit travel package will check in at the front desk of the resort they have been assigned to. (i.e.: Sports, Music, Movies, etc.)
Step 1: Check in and register with Disney at the front desk where you will receive your hotel room keys (Disney Magicbands).
Step 2: Please have your confirmation email and registration number for a smoother check in. Enter The Summit Registration Tent located at Celebrity Hall and check in with the Varsity All Star staff where you will pick up your Summit Credentials/Lanyards, Walt Disney World Park Hopper Passes, schedules for the weekend as well as other pertinent information concerning the Championship. If you arrive at the Disney’s All Star Resorts and have a balance due no tickets or lanyards will be given out until your invoice is paid in full.
Registration hours are:
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday, May 3, 2018 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday, May 4, 2018 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
6. Hotel Assignment and Address – You will be housed at the following hotel listed below:
Disney's All Star Sports Resort 1701 West Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 407-939-5000
7. The Summit Championship Office – The designated office for the Championship is located in Celebrity Hall at Disney’s All Star Resorts. Office hours during the event are:
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday, May 3, 2018 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday, May 4, 2018 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday, May 6, 2018 - 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM Monday, May 7, 2018 - 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon)
8. Event Schedule and Order of Competition – The event schedule and order of competition is available on varsity.com. This schedule is still tentative and may change slightly. You will receive a final and detailed schedule once you arrive in Orlando.
9. Cheer Competition Outline – The following are the rounds that will take place each day of the event. Please review the Block Schedule and Order of Competition on varsity.com for more details.
Thursday – International divisions, with final performances on Friday
Friday – Wild Card teams, with final performances on Sunday
Saturday – At Large & Paid teams, with final performances on Sunday
Sunday – All final performances
10. Dance Competition Outline – Please review the Block Schedule and Order of Competition on varsity.com for more details.
All At Large & Paid teams will perform on Saturday, with final performances on Sunday
11. The Summit Reveal – The Summit reveals for all cheer divisions will be held in the Visa Athletic Center (formally known as the J Center) and the West Arena (Green) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex. The Summit reveals for all dance categories will be held in the venue they compete in on Saturday. Be sure to check the daily schedule for the reveal times for your divisions.
How many teams advance from the Wild Card Round? (CHEER ONLY)
The Wild Card round of The Summit will take place Friday, May 4th at the Walt Disney World Resort® in Orlando, FL.
In Wild Card divisions with 29 teams or less, 1st and 2nd place WILD CARD teams will advance straight to FINALS on Sunday and 3rd place WILD CARD teams will move to Saturday – SEMI FINALS. In Wild Card divisions with 31 – 50 teams, 1st and 2nd place WILD CARD teams will advance straight to FINALS on Sunday, while 3rd & 4th place WILD CARD teams will move to Saturday – SEMI FINALS. In Wild Card divisions with 51 – 60 teams, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place WILD CARD teams will advance straight to FINALS on Sunday, while 4th & 5th place WILD CARD teams will move to Saturday – SEMI FINALS. In Wild Card divisions with 61+ teams, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place WILD CARD teams will advance straight to FINALS on Sunday, while 4th, 5th, and 6th place WILD CARD teams will move to Saturday – SEMI FINALS.
How many teams advance to Finals on Sunday from Semi-Finals?
All divisions with 10 or less teams in Semi Finals will have 5 teams advance to finals. All divisions with 11 - 19 teams in Semi Finals will have 50% of the division advance to finals. All divisions with 20 - 30 teams in Semi-Finals will have 10 teams in the division advance to finals. All divisions with 31 – 55 teams in Semi-Finals will have a MAX of 12 teams in the division advance to finals. All Divisions with 56+ teams will have a MAX of 14 teams in the division advance to finals.
12. The Summit Competition Venues – This year we will be utilizing SIX cheer venues, all at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex: The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports (four venues), the Visa Athletic Center (formally known as the J Center) and the HP Field House. We also will be using TWO dance venues at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: Fiesta and Coronado ballrooms. All rehearsals for Dance will take place in Veracruz C Exhibit hall. The Walt Disney World Park Hopper that you receive with your travel package includes 5 days admission into the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex as well as 2 days admission into both venues at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Admission into the competition venues is included only for those on the Summit travel package and anyone purchasing Disney tickets from the Summit. Only those NOT purchasing tickets from the Summit will be charged an admission of $35.00 per day into the venues. For cheer general admission – you can only purchase tickets at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex ticket booths and they will only be on sale the day of our events. For dance general admission – you can purchase daily wrist bands during registration hours starting on Wednesday in the Baja Meeting Room at the Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. On the days of the event, wristbands may be purchased at our customer service counter.
13. Registration & Ticket Pick-Up Information –
If You Need To: Please Visit: Purchase ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ESPN Wide World of Sports: Ticket Booth General Admission Tickets Only (All Cheer beginning Wednesday, May 2nd Summit Competition Venues) Purchase Discounted Walt Disney World Park Disney Springs: Hopper Tickets – Includes admission into the Varsity All Star Registration Tent located behind ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as well as Cirque Du Soleil. We suggest parking in the the Dance Summit Competition Venues Strawberry parking lot. View map for details. Pick Up Pre-Ordered Discounted Walt Disney Disney Springs: World Park Hopper Tickets- Includes admission Varsity All Star Registration Tent located behind into the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as Cirque Du Soleil. We suggest parking in the well as the Dance Summit Competition Venues Strawberry parking lot. View map for details. Commuter Squads and Commuter Individual Disney Springs: Registration Varsity All Star Registration Tent located behind Cirque Du Soleil. We suggest parking in the Strawberry parking lot. View map for details. Travel Package Squads, Individuals and Family Disney’s All Star Resorts: Registrations for Disney’s All Star Resorts Celebrity Hall Travel Package Squads, Individual registration, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: Family Registrations for Disney’s Coronado North Registration Desk Springs Resort
*Parking garages do not open until 8AM at Disney Springs. If you arrive before 8AM, you must park in the Strawberry lot.
14. Celebration Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Sunday evening we have planned a Celebration Party at Disney's Hollywood Studios®. The park will be closed to the public. The following attractions will be open from 10:00 pm - 1:30 am. • Twilight Zone Tower of Terror • Rock-n-Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith • Toy Story Midway Mania • Star Tours – The Adventure Continues • Disney Character Meet and Greets: Mickey, Minnie, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and more
We also have two DJs setup for dancing; one at the Indiana Jones Theater® Epic Stunt Spectacular Theater and the second DJ will be set up on Hollywood Boulevard from 10:00 pm - 2:00 am. (The DJ plays thirty minutes longer than the attractions are open)
The cost of the Celebration Party is included in The Summit’s travel package. For those teams or family members who didn’t purchase the travel package, admission into the Celebration Party is $40.00. Extra tickets (wristbands) are limited and will be for sale only during the times listed above at registration. NO wristbands will be for sale at the front gate of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED FOR THOSE PURCHASING EXTRA TICKETS. Walt Disney World buses DO NOT shuttle to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this evening due to the park being closed to the public. Those purchasing extra wristbands must provide their OWN TRANSPORTATION. * Please note that these attractions will have height restrictions. Each group of minors attending the Celebration Party must be accompanied by an adult chaperone (21 years or older) in order to be allowed into the Party. NO liquids will be allowed into Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you have liquid medications, they will need to be stored at the front gate of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
15. Photography and Video Policy - Because we take the safety and security of our participants seriously, our policy is to protect your privacy and that of all participants. Audience use of telephoto lenses will not be allowed. Unauthorized users of such equipment will be escorted from our event. Only official press from newspapers, magazines, etc. will be allowed to shoot pictures during our event with professional equipment. All press requests will be taken seriously and a contract must be signed prior to clearance being given. We hope that you understand the seriousness of this issue and give us your full support. For press clearance, please email Sheila Noone at [email protected].
16. Universal Event Photography - Each team will have the opportunity to have their picture taken prior to their first rehearsal of their first performance only. Order forms are available on varsity.com if you would like to purchase them. You may make as many copies as needed. Please have the completed order forms with you when you have your picture taken. Here is the UEP form.
17. Live Streaming on Varsity TV on Varsity.com – Watch the Summit Championship LIVE, routine videos, future events, documentaries and more on Varsity TV on Varsity.com with an annual or monthly membership!
SUMMIT:
Thursday, May 3rd
Live stream begins at 10:00 am EST from the HP Field House and the Visa Athletic Center
Friday, May 4th
Live stream begins at 8:30 am EST from Arena North, 9:00 am EST from the HP Field House and Arena South, 10:00 am EST from Arena East, 11:30 am EST from the Visa Athletic Center and 12:00 pm EST from Arena West
Saturday May 5th
Live stream begins at 8:00 am EST from the HP Field House, Arena North and Arena South, 9:00 am EST from Arena East, 12:00 pm EST from Arena West and 1:00 pm EST from the Visa Athletic Center
Sunday May 6th
Live stream begins at 9:00 am EST from the HP Field House and Arena East, 10:00 am EST from Arena North and Arena South and 11:30 am EST from Arena West and the Visa Athletic Center
DANCE SUMMIT:
Saturday May 5th
Live stream begins at 9:00 am EST from the Coronado Ballroom and 9:30 am EST from the Fiesta Ballroom
Sunday May 6th
Live stream begins at 9:00 am EST from the Coronado Ballroom and 10:30 am EST from the Fiesta Ballroom
Competition routine videos will be available to Varsity TV members during the championship weekend and for the duration of their membership. For all other viewers, competition routine videos will be available free of charge beginning seven days after the event has concluded. After July 1st, these videos will only be available to Varsity TV members.
18. Text Message Alerts - We'll be sending out updates, alerts, and announcements via text message throughout the competition weekend. To sign up, text "Summit" to 36698.
19. Varsity TV on Varsity.com - You can also stay up-to-date through Varsity.com's coverage of The Summit. Results from all divisions will be posted as soon as they are announced on Varsity TV on Varsity.com
19. Connect and share your competition experience with Varsity All Star - Follow Varsity All Star on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram today for a chance to see your team showcased. Make sure to use the hashtag #TheSummit18!
20. NEW in 2018 – Come and visit the Varsity Spirit Zone at the Summit and Dance Summit with photo and video activations, social visualizations, the chance to earn badges and win prizes, all at your fingertips. More details to come!
Thanks for being a part of The Summit and enjoy your time at the Walt Disney World® Resort!
Sincerely,
Melanie Berry Senior Vice President Special Events